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F. M. TURCK AND B. C. WHITE. SHEET CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINHNG PRESSES.

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A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK M. TURCK AND BRUCE CLARK WHITE, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed August 29, 1917. Serial No. 188,763.

b 1: whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,FREnnu1eK M. Toner; and Bnncn C. \Vm'rn, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Controlling Devices for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in inulti-color printing presses in which rotating couples are employed to print two or more colors in superimposed relation upon sheets and particularly to a type of printing press shown and described in Patout No. 1,146,039 dated July 18th, 1915.

One object of our invention is to provide means for sustaining the printed sheet in its transfer from one printing operation to the succeeding one without contact with the freshly printed surface of the sheet.

Another object of our invention is to provirle means for driving, guiding and sustaining the sheet carrier to insure accuracy of sheet registry.

Another ob ect is to provide a convenient space between the impression cylinders to which the operator has ready access and in which he may stand to make ready the impression surfaces upon said cylinders.

The invention also includes certain de tails of construction hereinafter set forth.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 13-13 of Fig. 2, showing the operating parts with the front frames removed; Fig. 2 is a plan view without feed or delivery mechanism; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 141-i of Fig. 2; Fig. at is a horizontal view, partially in section. on line 15 15 of Fig. 3, showing the sheet sustainin suction chambers with the cylinders removed; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of a part of a suction chamher on line 1515 of Fig. 7; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the same on line '-ii of Fig. 5: Fig. 7 a cross section of the same on line 5 5 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a detail sec tion of the upper hangers for the suction chambers on line 6-6 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is another view of the same; Fig. 10 is a detail section of the lower hangers for the suction chambers on line 8-8 of Fig. 11; Fig. 11 is a detail section of the same on line 7-7 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a detail section through the carrier and cylinder poclc ets on line 10-10 of Fig. 14:; Fig. 13 is a detail elevation of one end of a carrier; Fig. 14 is a detail horizontal section through the same on line 9--9 of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a side view of a gripper tumbler on the carrier ring in open position; Fig. 16 is the same in closed position; Fig. 17 is a detail of the supporting rollers for the sheet carrier rings on line 12-12 of Fig. 18; Fig. 18 is a cross section of the same on line 11-11 of Fig. 17.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, numeral 1 designates the bed-plate of the press, upon which are mounted two front and two rear side frames 2 and 3 respectively. In these frames suitable bearings are provided in which are journaled for rotation the two printing couples composed of the form or plate cylinders i and 5 and the impression cylinders 6 and 7. Each of the form cylinders is divided circumfercntially into three equal sections, two thereof being provided with printing plates, while the third is left blank or idle, the plates for cylinder 4 being indicated by letters R and B, see Fig. 3, and those for cylinder 5 by letters Y and BB, the several letters likewise respectively indicating the commonly employed colors red, blue, yellow and black, arbitrarily arranged herein. The several plates are adapted to engage for printing action the corresponding impression surfaces of the cylinders 6 and 7, indicated by r, I), y and 66, these surfaces being conventionally arranged with detachable draw and filling sheets to afford means for applying the necessary packing or make-ready for securing uniform impressions. As thus arranged, it will be obvious that each plate in its repeated revolutions will engage the same section of the impression surface and thereby preserve a corresponding uniformity in the impressions.

For imparting motion to the printing couples, a shaft 8 is mounted in bearings formed on the rear frames 3 and in the floor-stand 9, the shaft being provided with a power-pulley 10 and a driving pinion 11, the latter engaging the intermediate gears h lil. The latter engage the intermediate gears 13 13, which in turn engage the gear rings 1-l1l secured upon the impression cylinders 6 and 7. Gear rings 1515 are secured, one to each plate cylinder 1- and 5, and engage with the gear rings 1114 of the impression cylinders (5 and 7, the gears being of such proportion that the several cylinders of the prlnting couples will be rotated at a common rate of speed.

For advancing the work to be printed, a sheet carrier is provided, composed of the iippositely-disposed annular toothed carrierrings 16-16, connected rigidly together by crossbraces 17. See Figs. 1, :2 and The axes of the four cylinders and of the sheet carrier are preferably arranged in one horizontal plane. The impression. cylinders are each provided at either end with gear rings 18 whose pitch diameters equal the cylinder diameters. The carrier rings are internally toothed and each ring engages the gear rings 18 at one end of the two impression cylinders b and 7. With two color printing sections and one blank section on each cylinder as arranged for i-color printing there will be seven cross-braces or sheet-carriers 17 cqui-distant in their spaced position about the carrier-rings 16. In other words, there will be twice as many sheet-carrier divisions, plus one, as there are cylinder divisions, hence 3X2-i-1 7. The pitch diameter of the carrier rings will therefore be 2 times the diameter of cylinders 6 and 7 and the space between the cylinders 6 and 7 will be equal to one third of the cylinder diameter. In practice the dimensions are such as to pro vide convenient space 19 between the cylinders for the operator to stand while making ready upon either of the impression cylinders, at the same time affording him ample head room in this space. Access to this space 19 from the front of the press is unimpeded, as the driving gear train is located at the rear.

A circular projection 20 is provided at each end of each plate cylinder to form bear ers for guidin the carrier rings 16. In addition to thebearers 20, each carrier ring is provided with two supporting rollers 21 journaled in vertically movable frames 22 on shafts See Fig. 17. Each movable frame is pivotally mounted in a base-plate 21 by a pin 25 which fits in apertures through the inner end of frame 22 and lugs 26 formed on the base-plate 21. The outer end of movable frame 22 is provided with a set screw 27 whereby it may be adjusted vertically. A jam-nut 28 is provided to lock the screw 27 in its adjusted position. A yielding support. is also provided for each movable frame 22 consisting in a heavy spring 29 and washer 30. A set-screw 31 threaded through the movable frame 22 and bearing against the washer 3O affords a means for altering the tension or supporting function of the spring. A jam-nut 32 locks the set-screw 31 in its adjusted position. The four springs are of sutticicnt stilfness to sustain the whole sheetcarrier structure. In practice it is found necessary to vary the spring tension so that the two supporting rollers below cylinder 6 will carry somewhat more than half the weight of the sheet-carrier structure while the support afforded by the rollers 21 below the cylinder 7 will be adjusted to carry somewhat less than half the weight of the sheetcarrier structure. By these means the stress and wear upon the teeth of the carrier rings 16 may be reduced to a minimum and such stress may be uniform and continuous upon the same side of the teeth of the rings 16, whether they are in mesh with the gear rings of cylinder 6 0r cylinder T. This is important as it renders the whole system of gearing independent of tooth wear in main.- taining accuracy of relative cylinder and sheet-carrier movements. Such accuracy is necessary for obtaining and maintaining cor rect registry in multi-color printing. Uniformity of tooth pressure also promotes accuracy of registry throughout the life of the press.

The internally toothed carrier-rings 16 in mesh with the externally toothed gear-rings 18 (see Fig. 15) bring into simultaneous engagement a relatively large number of teeth, much larger than would be the case were the rings externally toothed and in mesh with gear-rings 011 cylinders l and 5. This arrangement of internal gear-rings therefore distributes the tooth pressure over an increased number of teeth with a resultant decrease in tooth wear and a smoother and more accurate movement of the sheetcarrier.

The principal advantage derived from the employment of the internally geared carrierrings lies in the fact that the body of the ring and likewise the cross-braces or sheetcarriers 17 are external to the path of the sheet. This arrangement permits the use of fixed tape supports 33 or fixed supporting plates 31 and 35 for carrying the sheet from printing couple 57 to printing couple 4.-6. See Fig. 3.

Another ad antage gained by this external position of the carrier-rings 1G and sheetcarriers 17 is that a fixed sheet-su 'iporting device may be introduced wholly within the circular path of the sheet and extending from printing couple 4-6 to printing cou ple 57 and practically (Jo-extensive with the lower half of the circular path of the sheet.

The sheet-supporting device consists in compartments preferably in separate sections 36, 37 and 38 from which the air is partially exhausted. Sec Figs. 3 and l. The

outside faces 39 of these compartments are curved and located to correspond with the circular path of the sheet and slightly within and clear of the sheet-carriers. The outside faces 39 of these compartments are perforated whereby the sheet when drawn along by the sheet-carriers 17 will be sucked against the surfaces 39 and held thereto by the excess external air pressure.

Hanger -bars 40 extend between and through the frames 2 and 3 and are secured in crosswise adjustable sockets -11. To these hanger-bars are hung the middle suction compartment 37 by screws 12, which, with the set-screws 43, provide means for adj usting this middle compartment vertically. Like means provide for the support and adjustment of the lower edges of the side suction compartments 36 and 38. The upper edges of the latter are provided with hangerbars 41 which are hung by vertical rods 45 to the machine frames 2 and 3 and are further supported by horizontal rods 46 all of which are provided with adjusting nuts. Thusmeans are provided for adjustingeithcr end of each compartment in any desired direction. Each sectional compartment is preferably divided widthwise by a middle partition 47 thus forming six divisions. From the middle of each, connection is made to a suction fan or exhauster 48 by means of pipes 49. The air is drawn from each divi sion through openings 50 (see Fig. 5) into a rectangular shaped chamber 51, which latter is divided and sub-divided by internal partitions 52 in a manner to give approximately the same distance from each opening 50 to the outlet elbow 53 and to provide for the same number of bends and turnings of the air from each opening 50. Each opening 50 forms the outlet for a given area and number of perforations 54- in the face plates 39. The purpose of the various partitions and passages in each compartment is to equalize the suction over the whole area of the sheet sustaining device. Suitable dampers, or separate inlets. not shown, may be provided to adjust the suction pressure or it may be varied by changing the fan speed. The suction should be but little in excess of what is necessary to sustain the Weight of the sheet and exert a sli ht tension thereon as it is drawn along the under surface of the perforated plates 39.

The section 35 of the sheet sustaining device above the first printing couple '-l6 is preferably supplied with suction holes 55 opening into suction tube 56 which is connected with the suction pipes 19 by tubes 07. The purpose of this latter suction device is to prevent the tail-end of the sheet from sliding down or folding over into the printing space.

he sheet-carriers 17 are provided with grippers 58 mounted upon gripper shaft 59.

At each end of each gripper shaft is secured a tumbler arm 60. Teeth 61 are formed across the end of this arm as a short sector of a spur gear. A short sector of a spur pinion 62 meshes into the teeth of arm 60. The pinion 62 is mounted to turn freely upon stud The pinion 62 is extended at a point opposite its teeth to form an art through which passes a pin (ll. This pin also passes through the end of a spring rod 65. about which is coiled the compression tumbler-spring 60. This spring thrusts against a puppet 67 in a manner to thrust the arms into the extreme position shown in Fig. 15 or in Fig. 16. The tumbler arm is widened out by the inner projection or hump 68 and the outer projection or hump 69 of such form that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 15 the movement of the ring 16 in the direction of the arrow will cause the projection 69 to come into contact with a tumbler pin 70 placed in its path, thereby swinging the arms into the position shown in Fig. 16 in which position the grippers are closed. The continued movement of the ring 16 in the direction shown by the arrow will now brin the projection 68 on the arm 60 into contact with a tumbler-pin 71 in a manner to throw the arm 60 back to the position shown in Fig. 15, in which position the grippers are open. The action of the spring 66 is such as to hold the grippers cithcr firmly open or firmly closed. The tumbler-pins 70 and 71 will be located at such points as it may be desired to open or close the grippers and may be moved into or out of interference position by appropriate ll'lQCl'lill'llSlll not shown, whereby only such grippers are thrown as desired.

The cross-braces or sheet-carriers 17 being located external to the path of the sheet and consequently external to the printing line, must be provided for by clearance pockets or recesses 72 formed in the plate cylinders 1 and 5.

The formation of the recesses in the plate cylinders instead of in the impression cylinders, as would be the case were the sheetcarriers within the circular path of the sheet instead of external to it, is advantageous in that the blanket-reel pockets in the impression cylinders will be of the usual width only. \Vere the sheet-carriers to be pocketed into the impression cylinders the pockets or recesses therein would require to be about twice the normal width. ntailing a loss of approximately ten per cent, in printed product.

Another advantage gained by the above described manner of advancing and sustaining the sheet lies in the fact that the sheet may be printed over its entire surface, except for a small margin for the grippers. Still another advantage lies in the fact that. the sheet is sustained entirely without contact with its freshly printed surface from its introduction to its final delivery from the press.

No adjustment of the sheet-sustaining devices herein shown is required to accommodate different sizes or widths of sheets as the sheet sustaining element is always present, uniformly, over the whole area, whether covered or uncovered.

To insure uniformity of suction pressure whether the perforated plates 39 are covered or only partially covered or wholly uncovered, it is necessary to make the capacity of the exhaust fan l8 greater than would be required were its duty unvarying.

It will be understood that appropriate sheet feeding and delivery devices, not shown on the drawings, will be provided, also inking and ink distribution mechanism for the plate cylinders, also not shown.

\Vhile we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that various changes may be made as regards its form, detail construction and general arrangement without de parting from the principle and scope of the invention.

\Vhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a multicolor printing press, two printing couples in combination with a sheet-carrier adapted to present a sheet first to one couple then to the other to be printed, said sheet-carrier being geared to the impression cylinders.

2. In a multicolor printing press, two impression cylinders each provided with a gear at each end, in combination with a pair of internally toothed rings encircling and engaging said gears, said rings being connected by cross-braces; grippers on the crossbraces and a type cylinder geared to and coacting with each impression cylinder.

3. In a niulti-color printing press, two printing couples; a circular path for the sheet, said path coinciding at two points with the points of printing contacts between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder of each printing couple; in combination with sheet-advancing means outside of said circular sheet path; and sheet-sustaining means within said circular sheet path.

-l. In a multi-eolor printing press, a sheetsustaining chamber; a perforated face for said chamber; and means for withdrawing air from the interior of said chamber; and means for :ulvancing a sheet along a curved path while sustained in contact with the perforated face of said chamber by external atmospheric pressure.

5. In a multi-color printing press, two printing couples; a sheet carrier for advancing a sheet along a circular path and pre seating it alternately to one and the other couple until the desired number of impressions have been made upon the sheet, in combination with a suction sheet-sus aining surface extending between the printing couples in a curved line coinciding with the circular path of the advancing sheet.

6. In a multi-color printing press, a circular sheet carrier for advancing a sheet along a circular path; an impression cylinder within said circular sheet path; a plate cylinder outside of said circular sheet path for printing upon the outside or convex surface of said sheet, in combination with iixed sheet'sustaining means within said circular sheet path and in contact with the inner or concave surface of the sheet only.

7. In a multi-color printing press, means for printing various colors successively upon one side of a sheet, in combination with means for advancing the sheet between printings; and means comprising a fixed suction surface arranged to engage the blank or unprinted side of the sheet and to sustain and exert a tension thereon in opposition to said advancing means.

8. In a multi-color printing press, a sheetcarrier composed of two end rings rigidly connected by gripper carrying crossbrzuees, in combination with cylindrical bearing surfaces outside of said rings and in contact therewith, said bearing surfaces being formed upon the printing cylinders.

9. In a inulti-eolor printing press, two plate cylinders; a sheetcarrier between them and guided thereby; two impression cylinders between the plate cylinders; and gears on the impression cylinders engaging internal gears formed on the sheet-carrier end rings.

10. In a niult-i-color printing press, a printing couple; a circular sheet-carrier provided with end rings having annular exterior bearing surfaces; circular bearers formed on one of the members of said printing couple and. engaging the exterior bearing surfaces of the end rings of said carrier; and supporting rollers engaging the exterior bearing surfaces of said end rings.

11. In a Inulti-color printing press, two printing couples; a circular sheet-carrier provided with end rings having exterior bearing surfaces; circular bearers formed on one of the members of each of the printing couples and engaging the exterior bearing surfaces of the end rings; supporting rollers engaging said exterior bearing surfaces; and means for adjusting said rollers.

12. In a multi-color printing press, a sheet-carrier comprising circular end-rings connected by rigid cross-braces; supporting rollers for said sheet-carrier; asupporting spring for each roller and means for vary ing the tension of the springs.

13. In a printing press, four printing cylinders horizontally arranged and constituting two printing couples; a carrier arranged to present a sheet to said couples; and a fixed suction surface arranged to engage and sustain the sheet in its movement between said couples.

141. In a printing press, a printing couple; a carrier arranged to present a sheet to said couple; and a fixed suction surface arranged to engage the sheet in its movement and to exert a tension thereon in opposition to such movement.

15. In a multi-color printing press, printing couples; a sheet-carrier for them; and a fixed suction sheet-sustaining device composed of separate sections having perforated faces arranged to exert a tension on the sheet in its movement between said printing couples.

16. In a multi-color printing press, printing couples; a sheet-carrier for them; a fixed suction sheet-sustaining device composed of separate sections having perforated faces arranged to exert a tension on the sheet in its movement between said printing couples; and means for adjusting the position of the various sections independently.

17. In a printing press, printing couples; a sheet-carrier arranged to present a sheet to said couples; a fixed suction surface composed of separate sections arranged to engage the sheet in its movement and to exert a tension thereon in opposition to such movement; and means for equalizing the suction of said separate sections.

18. In a multi-color printing press, printing couples and a sheet-carrier for them; a fixed suction sheet-sustaining device consisting of chambers having perforated faces arranged to exert a tension on the sheet in its movement between said printing couples said chambers having internal partitions to divide and sub-divide the air currents and equalize the suction over the area of the perforated face plates.

19. In a printing press, printing couples; a sheet carrier composed of end rings and cross-braces; gripper-shafts mounted in said cross-braces and provided With tumbler arms fast thereon; pivotally mounted pinion arms geared to said tumbler arms and having angular movements exceeding those of said gripper-shafts; resilient means normally acting to hold said pinion arms in opposite extremes of their movements; and means for actuating said gripper-shafts.

20. In a printing press, a rotatable sheetcarrier provided with opposite end rings; bearing surfaces formed on the exterior of said rings; driving surfaces formed on the interior of said rings; means engaging said exterior bearing surfaces for the support of said carrier; and operative means engaging said interior driving surfaces.

21. In a printing press, a rotatable sheetcarrier provided with opposite end rings; bearing surfaces formed on-the exterior of said rings; driving surfaces formed 011 the interior of said rings; resiliently mounted and independently adjustable rollers engaging said exterior bearing surfaces for the support of said carrier; and operative means engaging said interior driving surfaces.

In a printing press, a printing couple provided with interengaging positive driving means; a rotatable shcet'carrier provided with opposite end rings and arranged to present a sheet in printing relation with said printing couple; bearing surfaces formed on the exterior of said rings; driving surfaces formed on the interio of said rings; resiliently mounted and independently adjustable rollers engaging said exte-' rior bearing surfaces forthe support of said carrier; and intercngaging positive driving means between said printing couple and the interior driving surfaces of said rings.

In. a printing press a plurality of printing couples provided with interengag ing positive driving means: a rotatable sheet-carrier provided with opposite end rings and arranged to present a sheet in printing relation with said printing couples; bearing surfaces formed 011 the exterior of said rings; driving surfaces formed on the interior of said rings; resiliently mounted and independently adjustable rollers engaging said exterior bearing surfaces for the support of said carrier; and iuterengaging positive driving means between said printing couples and the interior driving surfaces of said rings.

24-. In a printing press, a rotatable sheetcarrier provided with rotating means and having grippers engaging the leading edge of the sheet; perforated sheet-supporting means fixed in the path of said carrier: and suction means acting inwardly through the perforations of said sheet-supporting means to engage the sheet and exert a tension thereon in opposition to the movement thereof.

25. In a printing press, a sheet-carrier provided with driving means and having grippers engaging the leading edge of a sheet; and a fixed suction surface disposed in the path of said carrier and arranged to engage and exelt a tension on the sheet in opposition to the movement thereof.

26. In a printing press, a rotatable sheet carrier having a. pivotally mounted grippershaft provided with a tumbler arm fast thereon; a pivotally mounted pinion arm geared to said tumbler arm and having an angular pivotal movement exceeding that of said grip er-shaft; resilient means normally acting to hold said pinion arm in opposite extremes of its movement: and means for actuating said gripper-shaft.

27. A printing press having two printing couples spaced apart to afford a passage therebetween; an annular carrier arranged to present a sheet to said printing couples and surrounding said passage on opposite sides; and interengaging driving gears between said carrier and printing couple couples.

28. A printing press having two printing couples comprising four cylinders having their axes disposed in a substantially horizontal plane; the adjacent central cylinders being impression cylinders, spaced apart to afford a passage therebetween; an annular carrier surrounding the passage on opposite sides; and driving engagement between said carrier and printing cylinders.

29. A printing press comprising two printing couples provided With driving gears, the adjacent cylinders of said couples being spaced apart to afford a passage; a sheet-carrier having oppositely disposed end rings provided with interior teeth constituting internal gears engaging the driving gears of said couples and surrounding the passage on opposite sides; and driving means for said internal gear and printing couples disposed exteriorly of said passage.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 25th. day of August A. D. 1917.

FREDERICK M. TURCK. BRUCE CLARK WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

